Polycrub®

Polycrub are the designers, and only suppliers, of the Polycrub. They are based in Northmavine, Shetland and are a successful social enterprise. This makes them a little different from usual businesses. They are a trading arm of Northmavine Community Development Company (NCDC), a charity that works alongside local people to regenerate and develop Northmavine.

Like traditional businesses they aim to make a profit, but it’s what they do with their profits that sets them apart. They reinvest them in Northmavine to create positive social change by supporting community-based projects.

The ‘Polycrub’ concept began as an NCDC community project in 2008. Their community was keen to reduce food miles and grow more fresh produce locally.
Grant aid from the Climate Challenge Fund meant that they could build 12 community polytunnels in Northmavine. Each building was split into shared plots and almost 50 people in their community were able to grow undercover.

Polycrub needed their growing spaces to be able to stand up to the Shetland weather so, before they began the project, they considered design ideas. They developed these to create a structure that would withstand their harsh climate.

NCDC had been approached to find an alternative use for redundant equipment from the aquaculture industry which, at that time, was either being sent to landfill, or littering shorelines. They incorporated the waste materials in the design of our hoops.

Once their community growing project was complete, it attracted lots of interest from other community groups and individuals who wanted to buy their design. They branded the structures as the ‘Polycrub’ and they now sell them in kit form as far away as France and the Falklands.

Polycrubs are now popular with individual growers who need a robust growing space. Many schools and community groups have been able to access grant funding for Polycrub growing projects. Crofters and farmers with plans for crofting diversification could also be eligible for funding support through the agricultural grants system.

Polycrub has structural accreditation, their designs are subject to copyright and Polycrub® is trademarked.

Polycrubs supply full construction instructions and drawings with their Polycrubs. This means they can be built by anyone with suitable building skills and experience.

They are also building a network of trusted constructors. Trusted constructors provide peace of mind that Polycrubs are built to structural accreditation standards, and they recommend using one of them if possible.